by Jeanne AdamsIt's RED HOT February!
Its going to be an amazing month around the Lair, folks. We have a line up that you just won't believe.
Along with all the usual wonderfulness of the Bandita's, one of the coolest things this month is that we're partnering with the American Heart Association to highlight the dangers of heart disease.
Did you know that heart disease is the number one killer of women, rather than breast cancer as most people would guess? Well, it is! So, to help all our wonderful Bandita Buddies and any of our male Bandita Buddies lady friends, we'll be
giving a tip-a-day every day this month to help improve heart health. Some of these tips will get you moving, and others will give you something to think about.So be sure to stick with us and check back every day, especially if your heart's acting up. Grins. In the meantime, check it out at:
http://www.GoRedforWomen.org/index.aspx
Oh, and today's tip from the AHA: Rather than tempting your beloved with chocolates, consider a gift that has more permanence. Search for a poem that describes your feelings and write it on beautiful paper for a handmade Valentine.
(Although dark chocolate CAN be good for you....and if you look at the 14th you'll see that we're ALL about poems!)
We kick off the Fabulosity of February with the red-hot Jessica Anderson's return to the Lair.Bandita Nancy and Jessica will talk about Jessica's latest novella, set in the NIGHTKEEPER'S Universe, CRYSTAL SKULL. This romantic jungle adventure features two of the winnikin, the Nightkeepers aides.
Enjoy the discussion with Jessica as they talk about Jessica's part of the ON THE HUNT paranormal romance anthology.
On February 3, Jana Oliver makes her first appearance in the Lair. She'll talk with Bandita Nancy about her YA Urban Fantasy, The Demon Trapper's Daughter, which frankly looks absolutely fabulous.
On February 4, Bandita Nancy, our resident guest-hosting mavin, is back again with the ever-popular Laura Anne Gilman.Laura Anne will pop in to chat about PACK OF LIES, the second installment in her Paranormal Scene Investigations her urban fantasy series.
On February 6th, the wonderfully witty Janet Mullaney will be back with Bandita Christie to talk about her latest release, MR. BISHOP AND THE ACTRESS.
Feburary 7th The fabulous,
historical romance author extraordinaire Tiffany Clare (http://www.tiffanyclare.com/) returns as Bandita Anna Campbell's guest to talk about her second book, THE SEDUCTION OF HIS WIFE!And on February 8th, put on your dancing shoes for the Romance Bandits Absolutely Fabulous Valentine's Ball! There will be fun, dancing, prizes, and a revelry beyond compare.
On February 9th join us for the return of Mr. Romance, when the inimitable Brad Parks returns to the Lair.
He's sure to woo all our regulars and lurkers with his fabulous brand of Brad Parks wit. Oh, and he has a new book out too....
On February 11th, we're thrilled to have Regency historical romance writer and Word Wench Cara Elliott visit with Bandita Christine to chat about her sexy new release, TO TEMPT A RAKE.There will be no stopping the terrific trio that will be invading the Lair on Saturday, February 12th. Join Bandita Christie Kelly as she hosts Sally Mackenzie, Vanessa Kelley and Kaitlin O'Riley for a rousing, what-a-red-month, good time.
Ahhhh, Valentine's Day! On THE RED DAY, February 14 the we'll have a very special gues in the esteemed heart doctor, Dr. Robertson, Chief Cardiologist from American Heart Association. For a barrel of fun and frivolity along with some seriously wicked good tips for keeping your heart healthy, we'll have the Terribly Heartfelt, Amazingly Unstable Wacky Love Poems Day.
Dr. Robertson will be with us not only to discuss heart health, but to judge the poetry, limericks, and haiku for 5 prizes along with a heartfelt basket of something or another from AHA and from the Banditas
On February 25th mystery author Linda O. Johnston will be Bandita Kate's guest on to launch her fabulous new Pet Rescue mystery series, starting with BEAGLEMANIA! We'll all be going to the dogs in very best way!Which, of course fits right in with our whole Go Red, Valentines theme since the Amazing, Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is on TV starting with four groups on Valentine's Day, the 14th, and finishing with three groups and Best in Show on the 15th. It's a ton of fun to watch, and may the best dog win!
(I'll be rooting for the Dalmatian and the Irish Water Spaniel, how 'bout you?)
74 comments:
So many great books coming out this month. I can't wait. Also, great lineup of authors vistiting. Yay!
I haven't seen the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Do they have any Husky's in the show? :)
Sound like a fabulous lineup for February - so many wonderful guests and some parties too! Sounds like great fun!
I love that you all are working with the AHA in raising awareness of heart disease. So important for all women!
Woohoo! Hey Danielle, the wily Golden Rooster's heading to your house for the day, I see! :>
So which breed would you root for in the Westminster Show?
Hi Laurie!!
Oh, do they have Huskies! They have Siberian Huskies, which are the smaller of the multi-color-coated husky breeds, and Alaskan Malamutes, which are the larger ones. Then all the Spitz-types - American Eskimo Spitz, Finnish Spitz, and so on. You'll love it!
Those are usually in the Working Group, although, I think the American Eskimo Spitz is in the Non-Sporting with the Dal. I'll have to check that...
Several cool "new" breeds this year too!
Laurie also said: I love that you all are working with the AHA in raising awareness of heart disease. So important for all women!
We are excited about it too, Laurie. Dr. Robertson made a presentation about the dangers of heart disease for women at National last year. Very enlightening. I got heart-checked because of it. Very happy to say I'm all heart-healthy, but so many women are mis-diagnosed, with fatal results. That's something the AHA is trying - with succeess! - to change!
I'm not going to lie, I really know nothing when it comes to dog breeds. I actually quite affraid of dogs that weigh more than 10-15 pounds. So I would pick one that was small. My mom has mini schnauzers that are cute so I would go with that breed.
Wow, that's some month coming up. Might be a good thing it's only 28 days or the cabana boys might go on strike for extra pay! Can't way to meet all our wonderful guests! And Valentine's Day is always huge fun in the lair.
Congrats on el chookio, Danielle!
What a great month coming up. I always cheer on the labs and spaniels, they are my favorite types of dogs.
Oh boy! What a great month coming up in the Lair! ;)
WOO HOO!
Can't wait for all our fabulous guests and our poetry contest! Our BBs are always so creative, I'm sure they will come up with lots of fabulous poems.
I LURVE the Westminster Dog Show! It is always right after the Daytona 500 so I'd watch the racing then the doggies. Such FUN! Someday I'd love to attend the Westminister! I'm always most interested in the Non-sporting breeds too, Duchesse. But I'm afraid my heart belongs to the Schipperkes and Pugs!
AC
Feb's gonna be a HOT month....yay♥
Happy February. Forgot the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show was coming into town. I don't have any favorites.
Congrats on the GR, Danielle.
February sounds fantastic! As for the dogs... I always pull for Pyrs of some sort. The Great Pyrenees, or the Pyrenean Shepherd!
[Oh and I'm "lucky" comment 13 :P]
What amuses me about dog shows is the announcers who are always cheerful and rattle off info about the various species of dogs. They're like the newspeople who talk during televised parades. I don't have a favorite breed though. I love most groups except for toy.
Have fun with him Danielle
WOW what another awesome month in the Lair you guys sure know how to have a month of parties.
Have Fun
Helen
have a good time Danielle
What a month... looks like more reading with all these books....as you say Anna a good job there are only 28 days this month LOL
Oooh another fun month in the Lair! Great guests - some old friends and some new victims ... I mean, friends *g*.
Also delighted to be working with the AHA. Such a good cause and so important in today's society.
Though I'm more of a cat person, I can't deny having a soft spot for the bigger dogs - Collies and Shelties, Labs and Retrievers, Red Setters and Weimaraners. I also quite like spaniels.
My faves are the Huskies. When we went mushing in Alaska, I could have brought an Alaskan Husky called Oreo home with me. Siberian Huskies, with those ice blue eyes are simply gorgeous! I saw some cute stuffed toy Huskies recently and wanted to get one, but didn't get a chance to go back to the store.
Wow, Jeanne, what a great lineup this month! And Go Red for Women is a great theme for the Valentine's month! Looking forward to all the excitement!
Danielle, you probably don't want to come to my house then. Ha! I've got a mixed breed who's all of 110 lbs, and my Irisher is about 65. Grins.
But I have to say, mini-schauzers are lovely dogs. One of my son's school chums has one and it has such a nice temperment.
Anna said: Might be a good thing it's only 28 days or the cabana boys might go on strike for extra pay!
So right, Anna! I'm telling you it's going to be one hoppin' place!
Hey Linda! Ahhh, Labs. They are SUCH wonderful dogs. YOu'll note, however in watching Westminster that the Labs for show are more cobby and stocky and solid. These are usually field Labs and have a whole lot less health issues than the more common "American Lab" that gets sold for pets in the US.
And spaniels...what's not to love? I have a friend who has Cavalier King CHarles spaniels - darling! - which are in the toy group. There are Tibetian Spaniels in the Non-Sporting. Then the Sporting is just lousy with Spaniels from the English Cocker, which is a wonderfully easy breed, to the American Cocker in all their color combos, including ASCOB (Any solid color other than Black), to Springers, Clumbers, Wessex, and a whole raft of others. Grins.
If you've never seen a Clumber Spaniel, you should look them up. Darling dogs, and very funny-looking (In a sweet way!)
Hey Fedora! We do have quite the line-up, don't we?
Are you a dog person? Any favorite to root for at Westminster?
Aunty Cindy said: I'm always most interested in the Non-sporting breeds too, Duchesse. But I'm afraid my heart belongs to the Schipperkes and Pugs!
Awwww, another Non-Sporting fan! And if I were to ever get a small dog - unlikely as I love big dogs - I would probably get a pug. They are a delightful, happy, bouncy breed.
Skips on the other hand....hmmmm. I don' theeenk so. Not the temperment for me.
Hey Cath's Chatter! It's gonna be hot-hot-hot! That's for sure.
Any fav's from you for Westminster?
Hey Jane! Yes, they will be invading your town in about 10 days for classes, then groups. It's huge prestige to just get invited to show at Westminster. I never got to do it.
Hey Lime! Oh, I LURVE the Great Pyr's! They're such gentle giants. They suffer in the heat in my area though. They're so heavily coated, they really need to be where it's cool and DC ain't cool in summer, that's for sure.
Hey Sheree! You said: the announcers who are always cheerful and rattle off info about the various species of dogs.
I know, it's so funny, isn't it? There's one that drives me bats though. He's usually a sports announcer and seems to want there to be MUCH more action, so he talks too much and says inane, and sometimes quite stupid things. *Giggles* After awhile, I have to turn down the sound.
I'm not terribly fond of the Toy group either, but if you love 'em, you LOVE 'em!
I know I can count on a super lineup at the Lair every month. February promises to be terrific.
I love watching the dog show.The Australian Shepherds are my favorites because we've owned several Aussies. They are such beautiful, loving, intelligent dogs. I also like seeing the terriers, especially the Cairns and the Scotties.
Hey Helen! You said: you guys sure know how to have a month of parties.
Ohhh yeah! Grins. Hey, you know us, Helen, always willing to party, and it IS after all "our" month. I mean matters of the heart, and all that. What better month to celebrate romance bandits, romance writers and romance in general!?!?!
Hey Barb! You said: as you say Anna a good job there are only 28 days this month LOL
SO true! And I'm telling you it's going to be some stellar reading at that! Grins.
Anna said: Collies and Shelties, Labs and Retrievers, Red Setters and Weimaraners. I also quite like spaniels.
Oh, they are lovely, aren't they? Red setters - Irish setters - are just glorious with all that ruddy color. They have been bred to a point of silliness, however and most are as dumb as a sack of hammers. (Apologies to lovers of the breed, but alas, it's true!)
And you went MUSHING? In Alaska? Oh, my! DO TELL!!!
Hey Susan! It is rather a lot of excitement, isn't it? Ha!
As several have said, I'm glad it's only 28 days because any more would just wear me out! Ha!
Mornin' Janga! You said: Aussies. They are such beautiful, loving, intelligent dogs. I also like seeing the terriers, especially the Cairns and the Scotties.
Awww, Aussies are darling. They have SO much energy though. I have a friend with a pair of them and they can run 6 miles with her, play for 10 hours and still be ready to fetch or play frisbee. :>
And the Cairns and Scotties are darling, aren't they? Tough temperments those 'ol boys, though. You have to have a firm hand with a terrier. I'm too much of a mush. Grins.
Jeanne, Aussies are high energy, but with seven grands around here regularly, high energy is good. LOL Our beloved Skye was a distance champion in Frisbee competition in her youth, and the herding instinct remained strong even as she settled into old ladyhood. We miss her.
Whooo, Jeanne! Another red-hot list of coming attractions. I'm particularly eager to celebrate Women's Heart Health!
Janga said: Our beloved Skye was a distance champion in Frisbee competition in her youth, and the herding instinct remained strong even as she settled into old ladyhood. We miss her.
It's hard to lose any dog-friend, or cat-friend, but those special ones that touch your heart...oh, those are doubly hard. Sigh.
Speaking of herding though, one of my funniest memories of when I was showing was going to a fellow Dal breeder's 6 acre farm. She'd gotten a Corgi in addition to her Dalmatians. Oh. My. Goodness. You've never seen anythign funnier than a whole pack of Dalmatians being herded like horses by one, little bitty puppy Corgi.
Snork.
Hey Jo! I know it's a cause near and dear to your...yeah, gotta do it....HEART!
Grins.
I look forward to February in the
Lair ! You always have such great
guests and books available for us.
Thanks for bringing in the AHA and
Dr. Robertson to provide necessary
information for women's heart care.
Another fantastic month of fun and guests. I've been looking forward to Jana's series, and that cover with all the beagles is adorable! I love beagles.
Wow February is going to fun!!!!!
Great call on our Heart Health!!!
Hi Pat! You said: Thanks for bringing in the AHA and
Dr. Robertson to provide necessary
information for women's heart care.
It did seem a natural fit for us crazy Romance Bandits! We're all about matters of the heart, so...
Grins.
Danielle, congrats on the bird! Jeanne, thanks for coordinating all this cool stuff with the American Heart Association. I think we're going to have a fun month!
Hey Trish! You said: I've been looking forward to Jana's series, and that cover with all the beagles is adorable! I love beagles.
I know! Isn't it too cute? So will you be rooting for the 13" beagle or the 15" beagle at Westminster? Grins.
Jeanne, I always root for the golden retriever and the Labrador retriever. If they're out, I root for the English bulldog or the Newfoundland.
Hey BJ! It should be a rockin' Red Month in the Lair!
Hey Nancy! It's been fun, for sure. :>
Nancy said: Jeanne, I always root for the golden retriever and the Labrador retriever. If they're out, I root for the English bulldog or the Newfoundland.
Oh, cool. I'd have guessed the Lab and Golden, but why the bulldog and the Newf?
I have to root for the Dal over the bulldog in my Group, but if he wins, I'll root for him. Non-Sporting vs. the others, you know. Alas, the Poodle frequently wins Non-Sporting. Grrrr.
What a fabulous line-up! Thanks for laying it all out for us, Jeanne! I'm very excited about "Going Red" and can't wait to read all the handy tips. I can use all the help I can get. ;-)
Also excited about the dog show this month! I love any and all breeds and I agree that the announcers' enthusiasm make it even more fun to watch.
On a personal note, I love Jack Russell terriers. So adorable and clever, aren't they?
Hi Kate! You said: On a personal note, I love Jack Russell terriers. So adorable and clever, aren't they?
They are very, very clever! They're not an AKC recognized breed, did you know that? Somethign about not enough standardized breed characteristics or some such rot. Grins.
There's a sort of joke amongst "dog people" that goes:
"When is a breed not a breed?"
"When it's a JACK RUSSELL!"
In other dog news, the AKC actually ADDED three breeds to the list, bringing the recognized purebred roster to 170. You can read about it here:
http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=4291
The Entlebucher Mountain Dog, which looks a bit like a Swiss Mtn. Dog; the Norwegian Lundehund, a very cool dog with an amazingly flexible spine and six toes on its front feet; and the "Show-low" - spelled Xoloitzquintli and pronounced show-low-etz-queent-li.
A few added to the Misc. class too, which means a few more new cool breeds in the next few years!
What a fabulous line-up! Thanks to all who are hosting guests and for working with the American Heart Association to educate us about heart disease :-)
It's going to be a great month!!
Hi Beth!
Thanks for making the next coming weeks soooo exciting. I am pumped now.
Good going on the rooster Danielle (how did I know you were grab that one?)
Can't wait to get into February.
Wow, we do have a great month planned, don't we, Duchesse? By the way, I have it on good authority some interesting characters are going to pop up on the 8th for the first Romance Bandits Absolutely Fabulous Valentine's Ball!
I'm with Anna S when it comes to the bigger dogs, even though I prefer the non-purebreds, given that Rocky is part boxer and part lab.
Hey Slush! Glad you popped in on this gloomy, icy day! Of course, it's never anythign but HOT in the Bandit Lair! Grins.
Had to lol (in a good way) at your icon/name. I'm hearing nuthin' but weather from all my pals on Facebook.
DC's icy, St. Louis is ice with snow, Chicago's snowsnowsnow, OK City, more snow...
Grins.
Suz said: I have it on good authority some interesting characters are going to pop up on the 8th for the first Romance Bandits Absolutely Fabulous Valentine's Ball!
Ohhhh, you won't believe what's going to be happening in the Lair on THAT day, folks. It's gonna be astounding! *VWG*
I like the big thump-able dogs too, Suz.
And Rocky the Wonder Dog is a heart-stealer, for sure. :>
I'm really looking forward to blogging here later this month! And if Cavalier King Charles Spaniels happen to win at Westminster, all the better...
Hi Linda! We're so looking forward to having you visit with us.
And if it HAS to be a Toy Breed...well, Cav's are the best of that lot. Grins. Just my humble opinion, of course!
Jeanne,
Oh today my name means more than one thing... Lol (the slush pile inside and out!)
Yes, it's cold, slushy and snowy where I am at too.
The Midwest didn't get out easy on this one.
Yay, Danielle! The GR thinks he is ALWAYS best in show!
What a great lineup of guests this month! And the Banditas are always RED HOT when it comes to Valentine's Celebrations!
Mom and I are huge fans of the Westminster. The Pomeranian won twelve or so years ago and inspired my Mom to get her tiny, fuzzy lovebug - Sarge (named after my Dad.)
I'm partial to dogs at both ends of the spectrum. I love the Danes and the Dobies. Then I also love the chihuahuas even the horrible ones like mine!) and the pugs.
We had a King Charles Cavalier when I was a girl. His registered name was Debenwood Roland, but we called him Mischief. Wonderful dog who lived to the ripe old age of 16.
To all of our Aussie friends please stay safe! Hope the cyclone avoids you altogether!
And for the friends in the Midwest, stay safe and warm!
Hey everyone! I just had to drop in when I saw y'all talking about dogs - although I'm mostly a cat person my folks got a Shih-Tzu a few years ago and Mei-Chan totally owns us all, now.... Friendly, fierce, and totally royalty in their own minds, those dogs! (very cat-like, actually)
My first dog was a Sheltie/Sammie cross. Sweet, loyal, and dumber than a bag of hammers, alas....
-- Laura Anne (Gilman)
Great lineup! Looking forward to it.
Hey Slush! You're back! You said: Oh today my name means more than one thing... Lol (the slush pile inside and out!)
Yes, it's cold, slushy and snowy where I am at too.
The Midwest didn't get out easy on this one.
Haha! Well that's pretty cool, all the way 'round. Grins. As to the Storm of 2011, I'm hearing that most of the places in it's path are truly feeling the wrath of Mother Nature.
Global warming? Seriously?
Hey Louisa! Is is warm in your fair state today? Or are you getting another snow event too?
You said: Mom and I are huge fans of the Westminster. The Pomeranian won twelve or so years ago and inspired my Mom to get her tiny, fuzzy lovebug - Sarge (named after my Dad.)
Poms are such sweet dogs. Too small for me, but darling neverthe less!
I should have known you'd be up for a Westminster night of Dog Show Watching. Grins.
And how cool about Mischief living to 16! Cav's are great dogs.
My Best in Show winner (not westminster, alas, but another equally good show) was officially named Ch. Ivy Lea's Russet Herald. Her call name was Talia - like the character in Misty Lackey's Valdemar books - but mostly she got called T-T or, since she was a liver and white Dal, "brown-sugar-girl" Grins. She lived to 15+ which is amazing, for a Dally.
Hey Laura Ann! We're looking forward to having you with us as a guest this week! :>
You said: my folks got a Shih-Tzu a few years ago and Mei-Chan totally owns us all, now.... Friendly, fierce, and totally royalty in their own minds, those dogs! (very cat-like, actually)
My first dog was a Sheltie/Sammie cross. Sweet, loyal, and dumber than a bag of hammers, alas....
Oh, Shi-Tzu's are delightful dogs. All that coat would prevent me from having one - hey, it's all I can do to manage the IWS! - but my neighbors have one named Ichiro after the ballplayer. Great dog!
And a sheltie/sammie cross? As in Samoyed? That would be something! And with that mix, I could see the "dumb as a sack of hammers" comment. Grins.
Hi Karyn! Hi Adrienne! Glad you popped in. Hope you'll stop back and visit each day and get a Heart Healthy Tip! Grins.
Jeanne, I'd root for the English bulldog because I grew up with them and still love their faces. They're very sweet dogs.
The Newfoundland, I'd pick because they seem so sweet, and they're so big, and they don't live all that long, alas.
Oh, you grew up with bullies? How wonderful. They do have sweet faces, and wonderful temperments. :>
Newfs are sweet, and you're right they don't live all that long - 8-9 years at best. They also drool buckets in heat. You'll see the handler's at the dog show whip out their drool towels to clean up the dog's face when the judge isn't looking. Grins
Jeanne, I didn't know that about Newfoundlands and drool. One of our goldens used to drool ropes out out the sides of her mouth (ick!), but only when food was visible.
Nancy said: One of our goldens used to drool ropes out out the sides of her mouth (ick!), but only when food was visible.
My dals have done this. :>
Hey everyone! Thanks for playing pick-the-dog with me today! Enjoy Go Red month in the Lair!
I always root for the dachshunds. Can never get enough "weiners"---lol
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